Glasgow offers no room for a comeback by Ramsay

It is the only restaurant failure of one of the world's greatest chefs. Before Amaryllis, everything Gordon Ramsay touched turned to gold.

However, it was not to be in Glasgow, a city he still regards as home. Ironically, Ramsay was forced to close Amaryllis while telling four struggling restaurateurs how to transform their fortunes in his Kitchen Nightmares series.

At the time Ramsay said: 'I took it on the chin, halfway through production, with some of the individuals shortlisted asking "Who the hell are you to come in and fix our restaurant when you've just closed your own?"'

Over a year has passed since an 'emotional and sad' Ramsay announced the closure of his Michelin-starred restaurant, but he still appears to be having sleepless nights about it. So much so that, for the second series of Kitchen Nightmares , he approached the new owners of the restaurant, now called Room, and asked if they would like to benefit from his culinary skills and kitchen experience, not to mention truckloads of free publicity.

John Pallagi and Simon Wright, proprietors of Room, politely declined the offer, adding that they had managed to transform the restaurant themselves into a popular celebrity haunt.

Dishes like escabeche of mackerel with saffron and coriander and roasted monkfish with creamed mussels have been replaced by prawn cocktail, mixed grill, Scotch egg and Black Forest gteaux.

'We were amazed when we received a letter asking us if our business could benefit from Gordon Ramsay's experience,' said Pallagi. 'We've created a hugely successful and popular brand. We respect Ramsay and hope he understands we'd rather not have him in our kitchens.'

They have, however, offered Ramsay their services: 'We are more than happy to go down to London and support him.'

The second series of Kitchen Nightmares will feature six restaurants, including one in Scotland. Three of the four in the first series said they had no regrets, despite accusations of exploitation, manipulation and stitch-ups. Neil Farrell, the owner of the Glass House in Ambleside, said he had gained commercially and professionally: 'It rekindled my spirit and enthusiasm.'

Richard Hodgson, co-owner of Moore Place in Surrey, said even now he was getting new customers from as far as Australia and America who had seen the programme. He also said he had no regrets about participating and would do so again.

However, Sue Ray, owner of Bonaparte's in Silsden, Yorkshire, which was savaged, said she felt very bitter. Her restaurant is up for sale with a price tag of £450,000.